The Defence Ministry is expected to unveil a major defence acquisition proposal this week, involving the purchase of 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force under the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft programme. The development is likely to come just days before French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to New Delhi, according to recent reports.
As reported by NDTV, the deal is estimated at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore and is being pursued through a government-to-government arrangement with France. The proposal is expected to receive clearance from the Defence Acquisition Council, paving the way for contract finalisation during President Macron’s visit later this month.
Under the plan, the Indian Air Force will induct 114 Rafale F4 multirole fighters, comprising 88 single-seat variants and 26 twin-seat trainer aircraft. These jets will be configured exclusively for land-based operations. The acquisition is separate from the Indian Navy’s requirement, which is being met through a different contract for Rafale-Marine fighters designed for aircraft carrier operations.
The first batch of 18 Rafale aircraft will be delivered in fly-away condition, fully manufactured in France, with deliveries expected to begin around 2030. The remaining 96 jets will be produced in India under a licensed manufacturing arrangement, with final assembly at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited facility in Nagpur. Once all deliveries are completed, the Indian Air Force’s Rafale fleet is projected to approach 150 aircraft, and together with the Navy’s planned 26 Rafale-M jets, India is set to become the world’s largest operator of Rafale fighters.
